The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | UNICEF
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: COVID-19 Backlog in Vaccine Shipments - UNICEF
UNICEF calls for support to unblock massive backlog in vaccine shipments
UNICEF is calling for support to unblock a massive backlog in vaccine shipments due to unprecedented logistical constraints related to COVID-19 lockdowns in some countries.
Speaking at a virtual press conference at the UN in Geneva, UNICEF’s spokesperson Marixie Mercado said that “as of today (May 1), dozens of countries are at risk of stock-out due to delayed vaccine shipments”. She added that “at most risk are 26 countries that are difficult to reach due to limited commercial and cargo options. Among these, at least five countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2019 and many more remain at risk”.
Since the week of March 22, UNICEF has seen a 70-80 per cent reduction of planned vaccine shipments due to the dramatic decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
Compounding the challenge is the exorbitant cost of securing flights, with freight rates at 100-200 percent above normal and charter flights even more costly. “Countries with limited resources will struggle to pay these higher prices, leaving children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio”, UNICEF’s spokesperson said.
In 2019, UNICEF procured 2.43 billion doses of vaccines for 100 countries, to reach approximately 45 per cent of all children below the age of five years.
UNICEF estimates that 20 million children below the age of one every year were dropping out of their measles and polio vaccines even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNICEF’s spokesperson warned that “disruptions in routine immunization, particularly in countries with weak health systems, could lead to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond”.
The biggest part of vaccines currently not reaching countries, are intended for routine immunization programmes. Because of the delay, countries have been using buffer stocks. As transport challenges persist, countries are at increasing risk of a vaccine stock-out.
“The extended delays in shipments also pose a huge risk to manufacturers, who must store the excess vaccine stocks, and may be required to postpone future production if their warehouse storage space is exceeded”, Ms Mercado said.
UNICEF has been working with manufacturers and partners, including WHO, the vaccine alliance GAVI, PAHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to find solutions. However, many countries will require additional funding support.
“We are appealing to governments, the private sector, the airline industry, and others, to free up freight space at affordable cost for these life-saving vaccines and to work with us to find ways around the transport disruptions we face. Children’s lives are at stake”, said UNICEF’s spokesperson.
1. Wide shot: exterior, Place des Nations, Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (EN) – Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “As of today (May 1), dozens of countries are at risk of stock-out due to delayed vaccine shipments. At most risk are 26 countries that are difficult to reach due to limited commercial and cargo options. Among these, at least five countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2019 and many more remain at risk”.
3. Medium shot: United Nations, Geneva with flag alley
4. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “Countries with limited resources will struggle to pay these higher prices, leaving children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio”.
5. Wide shot: UN Geneva with flag alley
6. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “Disruptions in routine immunization, particularly in countries with weak health systems, could lead to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond”.
7. Medium shot: UN Geneva with flag alley
8. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “The extended delays in shipments also pose a huge risk to manufacturers, who must store the excess vaccine stocks, and may be required to postpone future production if their warehouse storage space is exceeded.”
9. Wide shot: Flags in front of UN Geneva
10. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “UNICEF is appealing to governments, the private sector, the airline industry, and others, to free up freight space at affordable cost for these life-saving vaccines. And to work with us to find ways around the transport disruptions we face. Children’s lives are at stake”.
11. Medium shot, UN flag at UN, Geneva.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
La situation en République démocratique du Congo est aujourd’hui encore plus grave et alarmante, a averti lundi le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Volker Türk.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighting key issues and trends, and the human rights situation in some 60 countries.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP
As diplomatic efforts continue to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN development agency (UNDP) issued an appeal on Friday on behalf of people uprooted by the violence to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.
1
1
Edited News | UNOG
What can each one of us do to save the planet, asks Yann Arthus-Bertrand on World Environment Day
The last documentary film of legendary nature photographer, documentary director and environmental activist “Nature: The Call for Reconciliation” looks for an answer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians
Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA
As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis - UN humanitarians
Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO
UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount
Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday, But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.